🇷🇺 🇯🇵 Moscow is closely following the development of Japan's military potential, and in the event of any threats to Russia’s Far Eastern regions, such as the appearance of hypersonic missiles on the Japanese border islands.

▪️ Russia will immediately respond in accordance with the defense doctrine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told Sputnik.

▪️ Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that Tokyo was ready to consider the deployment of US medium-range missiles on its territory if Washington initiates official negotiations on this matter. In January, there were reports that the Japanese government had decided to start developing cruise missiles with interchangeable warheads with a range of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), as early as this year.

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🤨 The United Kingdom is planning to confiscate frozen Russian assets and is preparing relevant legislation, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin told Sputnik.

📌 Earlier this month, EU leaders agreed to speed up legal work on seizing Russia-owned assets held in foreign banks to support Ukraine's reconstruction. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has described EU attempts to seize Russian money, including that of the Russian Central Bank, as theft.

💬 "It is well known that there is a recognition in almost all Western countries, including London, that such actions are absolutely illegal, and that there are no relevant laws. But the perverted logic is that such laws must be invented, and, as far as I understand, this is what the European Union and Washington are engaged in," Kelin said.

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📌 LIVE UPDATES: Death Toll From Turkiye and Syria Earthquakes Exceeds 30,000

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⚡️ US plans to send terrorists to Russia and CIS countries to target officials, intel service says

Here's How The NFL Got Away With Paying Rihanna 'Nothing' for Her Halftime Show

When Rihanna took center stage at Super Bowl XLVII in Glendale, Arizona, few viewers were taken by surprise by her choice of songs; after all, Umbrella, Run This Town, and B*tch Better Have My Money all number among her most popular anthems.

But what most didn’t expect was that the Barbadian pop singer was doing it for free.

As one news outlet explained, “despite all the extravaganza and hefty price tag to operate the halftime show, the NFL ends up paying the singers and headline performers nothing.”

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⚡️ The US military is recruiting jihadist fighters to carry out terrorist attacks on the territory of Russia and the CIS countries, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement.

💬 "According to credible data received by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, the US military is actively recruiting militants from jihadist groups affiliated with the Daesh* and Al-Qaeda* to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia and the CIS countries. Particular attention is paid to attracting people from the Russian North Caucasus and Central Asia to cooperation," the SVR said in a statement.

▪️ In January, the United States recruited 60 militants, the statement said, adding that after training at the US' Al-Tanf military base in Syria, they are planned to be sent to Russia and other CIS countries to carry out terrorist attacks against diplomats and security officials.

*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

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📹 Russia’s MoD has revealed footage showing Russian paratroopers in action as part of the special military operation

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EU's New Sanctions Against Russia May Target 4 Banks, 130 Individuals, Entities, Reports Say

New financial sanctions are expected to be against four Russian banks, including Russia’s largest private bank, Alfa bank, the news outlet said.

The list of entities and people will include Russian military leaders, officials appointed by Moscow in the new Russian regions, journalists working for Russian state media such as RT, as well as companies and individuals in other countries with links to the special operation, namely in Mali and Iran.

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📹 Russia’s artillery crews manning 122mm D-30 howitzers destroyed sheltered Ukrainian infantry from closed firing positions (video courtesy of Russian MoD)

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🇷🇺 Russia is set to unveil a new reconnaissance drone, the Orlan-30, at the Aero India 2023 exhibition that kicked off in 🇮🇳 India's Bengaluru today — the first international exhibition for this type of drone.

Discover more about its main features in our infographic!

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🇩🇪 Munich Security Conference is one of the key international events to watch out for this week. Even though its motto is “Peace through Dialogue”, it’s likely that there will be a lot of warmongering on the main stage and on the sidelines, as the conference is dominated by the US and NATO agenda.

The MSC has just published its annual report. Here are some of the highlights:

▪️Energy security is among key topics, with terms such as "Moscow’s energy warfare against Europe" and "weaponization of energy" being used throughout the report. Notably, not a single mention of the NordStream sabotage, and the role that Washington and Oslo reportedly played in cutting off Russian gas supplies to Germany.

▪️Ukraine is in the spotlight, with MSC-commissioned polls supposedly showing the supposed support of “European and, to a lesser extent, US rules” in the country. Note the “rules” being mentioned – Moscow has always protested against “rules-based” international order, as “rules” are defined (or broken) by the US and their allies depending on their interests.

▪️MSC authors criticize Beijing for its human rights record, blaming China for promoting “alternative vision of human rights governance”, which is different from the West’s views.

▪️Notably, MSC author Leonard Schütte admits that there are no more rules when it comes to international trade: “The global trade infrastructure based on the WTO’s rules is eroding as China, the US, India, and even its stalwart defender, the EU, are increasingly resorting to protectionism. The old rules are dying but no new vision is in sight.”

▪️When it comes to “Nuclear order”, Beijing is once again in the crosshairs: “As its nuclear arsenal continues to grow, China may soon become the third nuclear superpower, joining the United States and Russia. The nuclear arms control regime therefore needs to be extended, but China has thus far refused to accept restrictions." – writes MSC author Jintro Pauly.

ℹ️ MSC will start on February 17.

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A dangerous sinkhole has appeared in a river near the Turkish village of Duru in Diyarbakir province after devastating earthquakes ravaged the country

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❗️ Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ There is no information on a new wave of mobilization in Russia;

▪️ The US call on people not to visit Russia and leave is not something new;

▪️ The Ukrainian delegation left the negotiations with Russia in the spring and did so on orders "from above";

▪️ Russia does not put pressure on Damascus in humanitarian matters, while Moscow is constantly in contact and provides assistance in eliminating the consequences of the earthquake.

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📹 Soldiers of Russia’s 1st Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade hit a Ukrainian tank hangar with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems.

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🇮🇱 ✊ Protesters rally in Jerusalem against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its planned judicial reform

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Dozens of Chinese Military Balloons Detected Over Taiwan in Recent Years, Reports Say

Dozens of Chinese military surveillance balloons were detected over Taiwan over past years, media reported on Monday, citing Taiwanese officials.

The report said that the number is much bigger now than it was in a previous period, raising concerns over possible Chinese attack on the island. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry has earlier confirmed only one incident with alleged spy balloons, which took place in February 2022, according to the newspaper.

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❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️The Russian Army eliminated over 30 Ukrainian servicemen in the Kupyansk direction;

▪️Russian troops eliminated more than 80 Ukrainian serviceman in the Krasny Liman direction;

▪️Russian forces eliminated over 150 Ukrainian servicemen in the Donetsk direction;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed two Grad MLRS and two Gvozdika howitzers in the Kherson direction;

▪️Russian forces hit a Ukrainian equipment repair point in the Slavyansk region in the DPR;

▪️Russian air defense systems shot down nine Ukrainian UAVs and six HIMARS rockets.

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Russia Proposes Joint Construction of Submarine With India Based on Amur-1650

🇷🇺🇮🇳🤝 Submarines of the Amur class belong to the fourth generation and have improved acoustic stealth, new combat systems, and the option of installing an anaerobic air-independent power plant. They can be armed with Kalibr or BrahMos missiles, torpedoes, and mines.

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China Calls on US to Lift Sanctions Against Syria Instead of Temporarily Suspending Them

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin noted that "the US has for years engaged in military intervention and imposed illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria," seriously exacerbating the crisis in the Syrian economy and people's well-being, and greatly weakening the Syrian government's disaster response capacity.

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Beijing Says US Balloons Illegally Entered China's Airspace Over 10 Times Since Early 2022

“It is nothing rare for US balloons to illegally enter other country’s airspace... The US needs to reflect upon its own behavior, instead of slandering, smearing and provoking confrontation," China’s Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, stated at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

In response to the US rhetoric following the recent balloon incident, the spokesman indicated that China reserved the right to "take necessary means to deal with relevant incidents.”

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